Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-12-07
A SHOT AND A THRUST.

Experience OF a Confederate Pickct-Ths
Frenzy Of Death.
When we came to throw out pickcts in
front OF our lines on the night after deal
ing the Federal army the hard blow at
second Manassas, we were right among
the dead and wounded We had won q
victory, and the bulk Of the Federal army
WAS making for the Potomac. but there
was rear guard which fought sullenly
and with thirst for vengeance, and along
the front of my division the blue coats
were alert and ready for any night attack.
1t WIS abouf 80 clock in the evening when
my company was pushed out, and to get
the place assigned us we had to crawl on
our hands and knees for the last 200 feet.
When finally got settled in place it was
at the base Of shade or fruit tree stand
ing alone in an open field. \ hall or shell
had struck the trunk of the tree and cut
it in two, and portion of the top lay on
the ground. The Federal picket, as l
presently ascertained, was about fifty
steps distant from me and had the cover
of heap Of rails. did not locate him
until he fred upon me. do not think he
knew Of my presence, but rather mis-
trusted il and blazed away to draw ME
ont.
There were dead and wounded all about
the tree. had creps over two dead
bodies, and two wounded men had begged
me for water. and, although the evening
was very dusky, | could count at least ten
bodies on my side of the tree. Ihad come
out with full canteen, knowing that the
front was covered with wounded. Close
To me on my right was Federal cor
poral belonging TO New York regiment.
He told me Mt the timo the number of his
regiment, but made no note of it. He
WAS shot in the right leg. midway be
tween the hip and the knee. This hap
pened two hours before dark. and con-
siderably nearer onr lines, and he man
aged 10 crawl twenty rods TO get to the
shelter OF the tree. 1t was only flesh
wound, and could he have been taken
into the lines that night he would have
been lit for duty within thirty days.
Some men would have almost walked Off
with sgch n hurt as that. but the poor
fellow seemed knocked all to pieces and
had quite lost his courage was hold
ing the canteen TO his lips, having raised
his head and put haversack under it,
when the Federal picket fired the shot.
The bullet crashed into the head Of the
he fell back dead
The incident upset me considerably.
and, being under orders not to fire shot
unless the enemy were advancing
hugged the ground n; the foot OF the tree
AMI remained quiet. Two more shots
Were fired AT me, but they were aimed too
nigh and went over. ! had been on duty
about an hour, when the pleadings of
laf
for water determined me 10 succor him
He knew of my presence and talked di
rectly to me, saying that he was shot in
both legs and had been lying there seven
or eight hours. l left NV gun on the
ground and started off on my hands and
knees. The corpse OF Federal lay di
rectly in my way, and | was just making
a half circle around it when the supposed
dead man scrambled up, seized his
musket, which lay beside him, and
whirled on me with sort of scream.
You see, il all came so suddenly
that was confused. and when he came
At me was still on my hands and knees |
and helpless. He held the gun a; ''charge |
and made an awful lunge ai |
me. The point of the bayonet passed |
through the back OF my blouse. and the |
unge pushed ME over and the steel went |
nto the ground almost 10 the muzzle OF |
he gun. WIS thus pinned to the earth, |
md the man let 60 Of the muskot and |
ell rcross me, Gttering a groan Of pain As
lie came down.
siy position was such tina: could not
rae myself for two or three minutes. and
;hen L did the man was dead for sure
he had probably been unconscious for
ong time before the frenzy Of death
ansed him 10 attack me in the singula,
manner he did. 50 firmly was pinned
o the earth that l had to skin out OF
ny blouse 10 get free, and it took a stout
wist AT the butt of the muskct to pull the
'ayonct ont of the hard baked soil.--"An
x Rebel in Detroit Free Press.